to: extend access to the Post-graduate Education Loan Scheme to certain universities and colleges; provide funding for the establishment of a Graduate Diploma in Environment and Planning at the University of Tasmania and six associated scholarships; vary funding levels for certain purposes; and correct a minor drafting error; and

to: clarify the intended operation of the Professional Services Review (PSR) Scheme and address certain issues identified by the Federal Court; validate investigative and adjudicative referrals currently under consideration by PSR committees to the extent that the matters referred relate to particular specified conduct or services; amend the age of access to services under the Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Scheme; remove redundant definitions relating to health care and pensioner concession cards; and

Health Insurance Amendment (Professional Services Review) Act 1999

to clarify the transitional provisions in that Act relating to production of documents and obtaining information.

to: increase the maximum amount of Commonwealth financial assistance grants provided under the 1998-2003 Australian Health Care Agreements; and provide for the tabling of a statement of the total amount of financial assistance paid.

to: extend the application of the National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes to Australia’s external territories on the same basis as they apply in the States and mainland Territories; and prohibit the use of “university” or similar words in a company or business name in an external territory without the Minister’s approval.

in relation to the obligations of registered organisations; and to remove the rule change assessment process which requires registered health benefits organisations to submit all rule changes for government approval and replace it with a system of monitoring and compliance; and

National Health Act 1953

to: increase the powers of the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman (PHIO) to investigate complaints and resolve disputes; provide for an annual “state of the health funds” report by the PHIO; and make amendments to the lifetime health cover provisions.

to: increase the maximum number of members of Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee; provide for payment and/or waiver of recovery of 90 per cent of the value of pharmaceutical benefits supplied from an unapproved relocated pharmacy where the pharmacist has subsequently obtained approval; allow an agent to make and sign an application for a pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) safety net concession or entitlement card; provide that certain ministerial determinations apply to the supply of pharmaceutical benefits by hospitals in the same way as they do to supply by pharmacies; clarify the decision-maker’s discretion to cancel approvals to supply pharmaceutical benefits; and allow a medical services provider to send claims directly to the Health Insurance Commission;

Health Insurance Act 1973

,

Health Insurance Commission Act 1973

,

National Health Act 1953

and

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

to provide that special supply arrangements can be used for the funding particular medicines not available through the PBS;

Health Insurance Act 1973

to restore specialist recognition status for certain specialists; and ensure that overseas trained doctors do not receive Medicare benefits for assisting at operations unless they have an exemption or have committed themselves to providing services in districts of workforce shortage; and

to clarify the circumstances under which medicare and residential care benefits paid to compensation claimants can be recovered; and

Health Insurance Act 1973

to expand the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register to include previous foreign immunisation of children where these are notified to the Health Insurance Commission by recognised immunisation providers or prescribed bodies; and update certain definitions. Also makes consequential amendments to the